Corset.



v PATBNTED FEB. 10, 1903. L. LAWRENCE. CORSET.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 16,1902.

H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES .m: NORRIS PETERS cu" wumau'rnoJwAsumumu. a, c.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

LAURA LAWRENCE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,363, dated February 10, 1903.

Application filed November 15, 1902. Serial No. 131,461. (No model.)

To all whom, it 17mg concern:

Be it known that LLAURA LAWRENcE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented acertain newand useful Improvement in Corsets; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to corsets, and has for its object the production of a corset which shall be less liable to get out of shape and be productive of continued satisfaction until worn outinstead of deteriorating, as most corsets do; and it consists in the construction and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the corset in use. Fig. 2 represents the structure of one-half of the back in detail viewed from the inside.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the corset; BB,thelacing-strips; O,thelacing, which is or may be of the usual type. It will be understood that in this structure it is intended to conform to anatomical peculiarities of the persons wearing the same. In order to do this most effectively and to have the corset correspond thereto continually during its entire life, I have found that certain peculiar arrangements of elastic gores and stays are essential at the point where the corset would come incontact with or underneath the collarbone,and I place an elastic gore on either side, each of which consists of one or more elastic strips F F across a triangular opening G. This also prevents the excessive drawing apart or widening of the lacing-strips at the upper ends, it being understood that the lacing-strips B B are of the usual type, with lace 0 running continuously from one end to the other. No matter how evenly this lacing may be adjusted the continual movement of the wearer would tend to draw the lacing-strips apart at the upper end or else draw through the lacing and draw together tighter to compensate at any portion-say, the waistline. By the elastic strips referred to this tendency is avoided, and it is avoided by placing the elastic gore at the point where the movement of the shoulders impinges upon the upper edge of the corset. It is not pulled to and fro to the same extent it would be if the corset were solid or unelastic at that point.

It will be noted that below the waist-line and adjacent to the lacing-strips I place another elastic gore K, comprising a triangular opening formed with elastic strips L L, in a similar manner. This also prevents the movement of the hips from drawing upon the lacing-strips with an unelastic strain, and thus tending to separate the lacing-strips at their lower extremities in a similar manner. These elastic gores are nearly opposite top and bottom. Running diagonally between them are elastic stays M N, so that the tops of the stays M N are between the lacing-strip and the gore at the top of the corset, whereas at the bottom of the corset the elastic gore is between the same stay and the lacing-strip. The stay is thus not bent to the same extent it otherwise would be, at the lacing along the under line of the figure than it would be if it lay parallel, or substantially so, with the lacingstrips; the action upon it and upon the whole body of the corset, due to the movements of the wearer, and the interposition of the gores, is much better.

An unelastic band P is introduced and extends throughout each half of the corset which cooperates with the lacing and hooks in front, rendering the waist-line practically circumferentially rigid, and about this waistline all of the other elements in a sense oscillate and by virtue of the elastic gore and the diagonal stays M N running diagonally between the upper and lower gores permit all the movements of the wearer to be unimpeded, while still retaining the rigid waist-line.

Of course other stays of the ordinary type, as E E, may be introduced, as may be desired. I do not confine myself to any special arrangement of the other stays.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim is- 1. In a corset, the combination of lacingstrips, a corset-body adapted to be laced therewith, said corset-body having an elastic gore substantially under the shoulder-blade line at its upper edge, an elastic gore at its lower edge adjacent to the lacing-strip, and a diagonal stay running between the elastic gores, its upper end being between the gore and the lacing-strip, and its lower end in front of the gore, said corset having a rigid waist-line, substantially as described.

2. In a corset, the combination of lacingstrips, a corset-body adapted to be laced therewith, said corset-body having an elastic gore substantially under the shoulder-blade at its upper edge, an elastic gore at its lower edge 

